Tim Tszyu v Michael Zerafa fight talks cancelled: Bad blood turns personal with ‘dead salmon’ barb

Fresh fuel has been added to the biggest feud in Australian boxing with Michael Zerafa’s camp questioning Tim Tszyu’s world champion credentials

Brothers Trent and Matt Rose with Tim Tszyu.

The bitter feud between Tim Tszyu and Michael Zerafa has exploded again following revelations secret talks for a $2.5 million Australian super bout have collapsed.

Australia’s leading boxing promoters, Fox Sports’ exclusive rights holders No Limit, have blasted Zerafa, accusing him of avoiding Tszyu again after his camp turned down the opportunity to fight the newly-minted world champion next month.

But Zerafa’s manager has hit back, slamming Tszyu as a promotional “dead salmon” and rubbishing suggestions the Melbourne middleweight is running scared as he prepares for his own world-title shot in America in July.

News Corp can reveal the Zerafa camp fielded an approach from American powerhouse promoters Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) a fortnight ago for the bitter Australian rivals to finally settle their score.

Tszyu is looking for a tune-up fight to prepare for his unification blockbuster against Jermell Charlo later this year and PBC had identified Zerafa as the perfect opponent.

But the biggest Australian bout since Anthony Mundine-Danny Green in 2006 has fallen over — again — after Zerafa declined a golden chance to steal Tszyu’s interim WBO super welterweight world title.

Michael Zerafa’s manager has rubbished suggestions his fighter (pictured) is scared of Tim Tszyu.

Zerafa is gearing up for his WBA world-title showdown with Erislandy Lara, prompting No Limit boss Matt Rose to take aim at ‘Pretty Boy’, who sensationally withdrew seven days out from his fight against Tszyu in July 2021.

“I can confirm there was a recent approach again for Zerafa to fight Tim for his next fight before Charlo,” Rose said.

“Unfortunately, the approach was turned down.

“Tim is looking to stay active and he wants to fight the best available.

“Zerafa is the mandatory (for the WBA middleweight world crown) and PBC asked me if Zerafa would be interested in a fight against Tszyu.

“This was a world-title opportunity.

“Tim has the world title after beating Tony Harrison (last month) and it would have been a massive fight for Australian boxing.

Newly-minted world champion Tim Tszyu was keen to fight Michael Zerafa next month as a tune-up fight for his unification bout against Jermell Charlo.

“It was in the preliminary stage, we were looking at possible opponents and Zerafa was the one guy on the list.

“Tim wasn’t aware of the offer but would have taken the fight no problems ... how much longer can Zerafa keep avoiding Tim?”

But Zerafa’s manager Elvis Grant blasted suggestions his fighter is too scared to fight Tszyu as the bad blood between the duo intensified.

“They (the Tszyu stable) are constantly looking for ways to have a dig at Mick and try to make him out to be the guy that runs from fights when that couldn’t be further from the truth,” Grant said from America.

“I am Mick’s manager and he was never offered this fight by Matt Rose.

“Matt and I talk and he knows where to reach me.

The Tszyu-Zerafa planned fight in July 2021 fell apart after Zerafa pulled out just seven days out from the Australian mega bout.

“Someone from PBC approached me with an offer that was not even worth mentioning.

“Zerafa wants to fight the best and is willing to get in with Tim Tszyu in his next bout if the financial terms are acceptable.

“Tim Tszyu is not a world champion, he’s an ‘interim’ champion.

“We’re not interested in a purse for that fight.

“Zerafa versus Tszyu is the biggest fight in Australia in years and could very easily do 300,000 (pay per view) buys with Zerafa selling the fight.

“Let’s face it ... Zerafa is the one that would sell this fight, he has the talent, looks and charisma plus he’s controversial so this fight would break all records in Australia.

“The other guy (Tszyu) has the personality of a dead salmon so Zerafa would take this fight on his shoulders without question and sell it into a PPV monster.

“When the Roses are ready to have a serious discussion, and do a 50-50 revenue split, Team Zerafa is ready to sit down and cut a deal.”

Originally published as Tim Tszyu v Michael Zerafa fight talks cancelled: Bad blood turns personal with ‘dead salmon’ barb